Method and means of dehydrating oil



N v-ll, 1930- w. L. PALMER y 1,781,076

METHOD AND MEANS OF DEHYDRATING OIL Filed April 4. 1927 atented Nov. 11, 1930 WILLIAM L. PALMER, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE A SsI GN- MENTS, T NATIONAL DEHYDRATOR CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA METHOD AND MEANS OF DEHYDRATING OIL Application filed April 4, 1927. Serial No. 180,713.

This invention relates to a method and means of dehydrating oil, and is more particularly related to a method of dehydrating hydrocarbon oils by imparting continuously to the oil a vibratory motion as the same passes through the dehydrating apparatus.

Hydrocarbon oils as produced from wells in nearly all cases carry with them a large percentage of watef varying for particular wells and localities. The water carried by the wells is partly carried as a mere mechanical mixture which will separate from the oil on standing but a considerable portion of the water is carried by the oil either as a waterand oil emulsion or as an oil in water emulsion. Many different methods have been devised, including chemical, electrical and mechanical means, for separating the Water from the hydrocarbon oils, but most of 0 these methods depend to a material degree upon the use of heat. The heating of the oil involves expense and also in all probability results in the vaporization or distillation of part of the lower boiling hydrocarbon oils from the residuum thereof. 7

The principal object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a method and means of separating water from hydrocarbon oils without the use of heat or without first heating the oil to aid the water separation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and means for dehydrating oils in which there is employed rapid mechanical vibration or oscillation of the water and oil, either mechanically mixed or emulsified, to cause the water to separate from the oil.

Another object of this invention isto provide a method of separating water from hydrocarbon oils which includes the subjecting of the hydrocarbon oil carrying the water to a rapid and continuous vibration to cause the water to separate from the oil.

Another obj'ectof this invention is to provide a method of treating hydrocarbon oils carrying water by subjecting the water and oil mixtures and emulsions to a rapid oscillatory action causing the mixture of water Other objects and advantages of this invention, itis believed, will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawingsis illustrated one form of apparatus for carrying out the method embodying this invention. I have discovered that water may be separated from hydrocarbon oil carrying water, either as a mechanical mixture of Water and oil, or as an emulsion of water in oil, or oil in water, by a vibratory action imparted to the oil as the same passes between a plurality of plates which are caused to rapidly oscillate. I have also discovered that in most cases, the water may be separated from the oil by imparting to the oil and water emulsion or mixture, a rapid oscillatory motionwithout the use of heat to aid the breaking down of the emulsion. I have also discovered that in cases of difficult water in oilor oil in water emulsions, it is possible in accordance with the method embodied in this invention to break down these emulsions with a degree of heat greatly less than that required in accordance with the ordinary chemical, electrical, or mechanical processes heretofore practiced for the breaking up of ordinary simple Water and oil emulsions.

In carrying out the method embodying this invention, water and oil are introduced through a pipe 1 into a container 2 through a spreader 3. The water and oil introduced into the container 2 through the spreader 3 pass downwardly in the container 2 between a multiplicity of fiat plates 4, which may be formed of any suitable or desirable material such as iron or the like. The plates 4 are mounted upon a shaft 5. The shaft 5 is secured to a means, such as indicated at 6, for imparting to the shaft 5 and hence the plates 4: a rapid oscillatory motion to cause the plates 4 to travel through a relativel short distance of approximately of an inc The oil passing down through the plates 3 passes into a sump 7 in which a water level is maintained at approximately the level indicated at 8. The oil and water pass downwardly, in

the direction indicated by the arrows 9 the same reach the water level as indicated at 8, and the direction of travel of the oil is then reversed, the same traveling upwardly in the direction indicated by the arrows until the same reaches the upper portion of the container 2 where it passes through ports 11 formed in the dividing plates 12. The plates 12 extend downwardly in the container into the sump 7 below the water level, as indicated at 8, to prevent the oil from passing under the same. The oil passing through the ports 11 formed in the plates 12 passes downwardly between the plates 12 and a second pair of plates 14, which are spaced from the plates 12. The oil passes downwardly between the plates 12 and 14 to the lower end of the plates 14 under which the same passes, and then rises in the container 2 and passes through ports or cut away portions 15 formed in the top plate 16 of the container 2. The oil then passes out of the container 2 through a pipe 17 and is conducted to the tank, sump,

, or other suitable storage space, to permit the water to separate out by gravity.

The oscillatory means 6 may be of any suitable or desirable construction which will impart to the plates 4 a rapid oscillatory motion. Mounted upon the shaft 5, preferably within the container 2, is a spring 18 which engages the side of the container 2 at one end and at its opposite end is engaged with a pin or plate 19 secured to the shaft 5. The spring 18 is for the purpose of returning the plates 4 in one direction as the same are driven by rapid intermittent impulses in the opposite direction by the oscillatory means 6. The oscillatory means 6, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises an electromagnetic oscillator 20 which imparts intermittent electric magnetic impulses to the end 21 of the shaft 5. The shaft 5 extends through the container 2 through a stufing box 22 so as to maintain a fluid tight connection. The shaft 5 is at its opposite end mounted between a pair of plates 23 which prevent this end of the shaft 5 from dropping downwardly in the .container 2 but operate to hold the same freely so that it may rapidly oscillate.

Means are provided for intermittently withdrawing water from the container 2 when the level of water in the container 2 rises above the level indicated at 8, which means may comprise any suitable form of drain cock, as i-llustratedat 2d. I

Plates 25 are mounted in the dome 26 of the container 2 to divide the dome 26 to direct the mcommg oil downwardly over the plates 4.

Means are provided for testing the oil as the same passes through the dehydrating apparatus, which means preferably comprise a draw-oil" pipe 27, which is connected with the dome 26 and extends downwardly into a sample pipe 28. Means are also provided for taking tests of the oil before the same nrenovo reaches the dome 26 which means comprise" a pipe 29 which is connected with the consions, it becomes necessary to employ heat in order to aid the oscillatory treatment of.

the oil to break down the emulsions, the oil may be heated by passing the same through the heater 3% in which a plurality of bafile plates 35 are mounted to cause the oil to travel in a curved path in close contact with a steam coil 36 mounted therein. The oil enters the heater 34;- through pipe 37 and is discharged from the heater 34 through the pipe 38, which may be, as indicated in the drawings, connected directly with the pipe 1. In order to control the temperature to which the (iil is heated in the heater 34, a thermometer 39 is mounted in the pipe 38 along with a pressure gauge 40. I

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be may obviously be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention,as defined by the appended claims. T claim: a 1. In an apparatus for dehydrating hy-' drocarbon oils, the combination of a container, a plurality of plates mounted in the container, means for conducting the oil between the plates, and means for imparting to the plates a rapid oscillatory motion.

2. In an apparatus for separating water and oils, the combination of a. container, a plurality of plates mounted within the container, means for spraying the oil and water over the plates, and means for imparting a rapid oscillatory motion to the plates.

3. In an apparatus for separating water from oils, the combination of a container, a

multiplicity of spaced plates within the container, means for introducing oil containing water between said plates and into contact therewith, a movable shaft supporting the plates, and means for imparting a rapid '05- cillatory motion to said shaft.

a. In an apparatus for dehydrating oil, the combination of a container having an oil inlet, a multiplicit of plates mounted in the container, means or imparting rapid oscillatory motion to the plates a water sump at the lowermost portion of the container, and. means for directing the flow of oil in a curved path to contact at a plurality of points with the surface of the water in the sump.

5. In an apparatus for dehydrating oil, the

combination of means for heating the oil, a container, a plurality of plates mounted Within the container, means for directing the oil between the plates, and means for imparting a rapid oscillatory motion to the plates.

6. In a method of dehydrating hydrocarbon oils, the step of imparting a relatively short rapid oscillatory motion to a flowing stream of oil-containing Water.

7. In "an apparatus of the class described, the combination of means providing a substantiallyclosed chamber, oscillating means mounted in said chamber, means for 'iniparting a rapid oscillatory motion to said oscillating means, and means for maintaining a fiowof oil through said chamber in contact with said oscillating means.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of means providing a substantially closed chamber, oscillating means mounted in said chamber, means for imparting a rapid short oscillatory motion to said oscillating means, and means for conducting the oil in relatively thin films through said chamber to contact With said oscillating means.

9. The method of separating water and oil emulsions, including the steps of separating the oil into relatively thin filmsilrapidly oscillating the oil and separating t e water as freed from the emulsion from the oil.

10. A method of separating water from oils including the steps of sub-dividing a flow of oil into a plurality of relatively thin flowing films, repeatedly oscillating the films of oil during flow thereof and allowing water to separate by gravity from the oil.

11. In a method of separating water from oils, the step of repeatedl atively thin oil films in a irection substantially transverse to the flow of said oil.

12. In a method. of separating water from oils, the steps of subjecting relatively thin oil films to re eated oscillatory motion in a substantially orizontal plane and allowin the Water to separate by gravity from the o1 13. In an apparatus of the 'class described, means for separating an oil into relatively thin films, means for repeatedly oscillating said separating means and means for passing a flow of oil in contact with said separating means.

Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 28 day of March,

1927. WILLIAM L. PALMER.

oscillating rcl- 

